Shloka 19

Adhyaya 54 — Cosmography of Jambudvipa: Continents, Oceans, Varshas, and Mount Meru

Sanskrit

अयुतोच्छ्रायास्तस्याधस्तथा विष्कम्भवर्वताः ।

प्राच्यादिषु क्रमेणैव मन्दरो गन्धमादनः ॥

Transliteration

ayutocchrāyāstasyādhastathā viṣakambhavarvatāḥ / prācyādiṣu krameṇaiva mandaro gandhamādanaḥ

Translation

അതിന്റെ താഴെ പത്തായിരം യോജന ഉയരമുള്ള പർവതങ്ങൾ അധാരങ്ങളായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു. കിഴക്ക് മുതലായ ദിക്കുകളിൽ ക്രമമായി മന്ദര, ഗന്ധമാദന (മറ്റുള്ളവയും) ഉണ്ട്.

Speakers

• Not identifiable from the supplied excerpt (cosmography narration)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Sacred Geography
• World-mountain supports

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Stability is a recurring cosmic motif: great structures are said to rest on supports. The imagery reinforces the idea that order depends on underlying foundations—seen analogically in dharma supporting society.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Cosmographic Sarga/Sthāna material: detailing the physical supports and arrangement of the world’s central axis.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Supports’ can be read inwardly as the stabilizing principles (disciplines, virtues) that uphold the aspirant’s inner ‘Meru’ (axis of awareness).